Tracking the weight of a mini Dachshund can get tricky. Because there are two types of Doxies—miniature and standard—many owners find themselves weighing their puppy trying to see which they have.
What’s more, Dachshunds need to maintain a healthy weight to prevent numerous health problems.
I’d like to break this all down so you can figure out exactly what your mini Dachshund should weigh.
How much should a mini Dachshund weigh? According to the AKC, a Dachshund is a “miniature” when it weighs under 11 pounds when fully grown, at around 12 months of age. It can be hard to tell if your Dachshund is mini or standard before it is fully grown, but most minis weigh around 3.3 pounds at 9 weeks, 4.5 pounds at 12 weeks, and 7 pounds at 6 months.
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How much should a mini dachshund weigh at 9 weeks?
First of all, keep in mind that a “mini” dachshund is just a regular dachshund that is a bit smaller than usual, these aren’t separate breeds.
The truth is—you can’t be sure if you have a Miniature Dachshund or a regular one until your puppy is at least 12 months. Its weight at 12 months determines what type of Doxie it is.
It can be difficult to judge a puppy’s “correct” weight without looking at its parents first. Without seeing the adult weights of your puppy’s parents, it’s all a big guessing game. At the same time, two mini Dachshunds can give birth to a standard one, and vice versa. Confusing, I know!
And analyzing your Dachshund’s weight is bound to get confusing if you are expecting your pup to be a mini when it is actually a standard. You may think your dog is overweight when in fact it just isn’t “mini”.
Having said this, there is still a recommended healthy weight for true Miniature Dachshunds week by week…
At around nine weeks, a healthy mini dachshund should weigh around 3.3 pounds.
How much should a mini dachshund weigh at 12 weeks?
When your mini Doxie puppy is three months old, or 12 weeks old, it should weigh around 4.5 pounds.
If your furry little friend is a bit above this weight, don’t worry. It’s much more likely that your dog is simply a larger Dachshund, not an unhealthy one.
How much should a mini dachshund weigh at 6 months?
At around six months, most mini dachshunds weigh around 7 pounds.
How much should a mini dachshund weigh at 12 months?
Finally, we have come to the real milestone, the 12-month mark. According to the AKC, a Miniature Dachshund weighs 11 pounds and under at 12 months of age, and a standard Dachshund weighs between 16 and 32 pounds.
Generally, Dachshunds are done growing by this time. But, they will continue to gain muscle and grow wider until they are about two years old.
Maintaining A Mini Dachshund’s Ideal Weight
If your puppy is miniature or not, what matters most is that it’s healthy and happy.
And while no dog should be significantly overweight, with your Dachshund, you need to be especially careful. Dachshunds have several serious health conditions that are caused by carrying around extra weight.
Intervertebral disc disease, patella luxation, and hip dysplasia are all caused by or aggravated by obesity. Dachshunds are small and have long spines. Their anatomy is prone to musculoskeletal problems. The absolute best thing you can do to prevent your Doxie from developing serious health conditions is to feed it high-quality food and make sure it gets lots of exercise.
Here are some important tips for maintaining a mini Dachshund’s ideal weight.
Portion Control
Just giving your dog a big ol’ scoop of good a couple of times a day isn’t the best system. You should track and maintain a stable diet for your pooch. This way, things won’t feel so random and abstract, you will know exactly how much your dog eats.
A good starting point for portion control is right on the back of your Doxie’s bag of food. Dog food brands tell you the recommended serving size and frequency based on your dog’s weight. You can start there and then tweak the portion size according to your pup’s specific needs.
While this system can get the ball rolling, it’s best to also consult your veterinarian. Your vet can look at the specific health, weight, and history of your Dachshund and tell you precisely how much it should be eating.
Track Those Treats
One of the most impactful things you can do to help your puppy stay in shape is to lower the number of treats you give it.
Treats are a huge source of calories for most dogs. Most types of treats are much more fattening than regular food. This is why you need to be careful.
While it’s important to reward, motivate, and even pamper your dog with treats, you need to avoid going overboard.
Start by following the instructions on the back of the box. The manufacturer will give a recommendation based on your dog’s size. Don’t go over this without first talking to your vet.
A good little trick for lowering your dog’s treat intake is to just buy smaller treats. This way, you can maintain the same frequency of rewards while lowering the total caloric intake.
You can even go a step further and reduce the total number of treats, instead opting for petting and play as a reward or motivator.
Another really common thing I find is that people are giving “treats” right off of their own plate. Human food is rarely healthy for dogs. We use too much salt, fat, and sugar in our foods and often include ingredients that are just downright poisonous to dogs. Unless you know what you are doing, I’d recommend that you never feed your Dachshund human food. Human foods are bound to contribute to weight gain in your pup, or worse.
Extra Exercise
Don’t let those tiny legs fool you, Dachshunds are athletic, energetic, and love to get outside and exercise!
As long as your Doxie doesn’t have any serious health conditions you should be able to increase their daily exercise time without any problems. Your dog will love you for it!
Veterinarians recommend that Dachshunds should get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. That exercise can be a simple stroll around the block, a hike, or some time to run and play at the dog park.
Food For Thought
There isn’t much difference between a Miniature Dachshund and a Dachshund. A 12-month-old Doxie that is under 11 pounds is a mini, and ones that are 16 to 36 pounds are standard.
It can be tough to judge what size your puppy is before it’s fully grown, but if you track its weight every few months, you may be able to tell earlier.
Just remember, each Dachshunds’ weight is specific to them and guidelines don’t always tell the whole story. Check with your veterinarian regularly to make sure your dog is at a healthy weight. Keeping a Doxie at a healthy weight can prevent many health problems and allow it to live a long, happy life.
